The Vietnam government recently bought a building in the French capital of Paris to establish a Vietnamese cultural center, the first of its kind in Europe.

The eight-story structure, located at 19 Rue Albert in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, will host a variety of cultural activities to enhance the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and France in fields such as music, literature, arts, gastronomy, tourism and sports.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Le Kinh Tai said the center is the realization of the visions espoused by former presidents Tran Duc Luong and Jacques Chirac.

The 13th arrondissement of Paris is home to thousands of overseas Vietnamese who have helped to preserve Vietnamese traditions and introduce them to people in France and other countries, Tai said.

Tai also expressed hope the cultural center will bring together Vietnamese expatriates and individuals of different nationalities to develop a peaceful culture of exchange.